I wish the OP would publicly mention the country he/she is chatting from because the cost of living varies significantly across different countries. Some first-world nations are taking substantial measures to lessen the impact on their citizens. In certain countries, marriage is generously rewarded, and having children comes with added benefits like paid maternity leave, free medical care, and government-provided child support for the first year. Unfortunately, many African countries suffer from poor leadership, and the consequences of this neglect are overwhelming.